This Haunted Historic Hotel Is One Of The Liveliest Places To Stay In Washington
By Jessica Wick|Published May 20, 2022
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Jessica Wick
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Jessica Wick is a writer and travel enthusiast who loves exploring new places, meeting new people and, of course, beautiful Big Sky Country and every part of Washington State.
As local travel experts, we know what travelers are looking for when it comes to finding the perfect accommodations for their next trip. To compile our lists, we scour the internet to find properties with excellent ratings and reviews, desirable amenities, nearby attractions, and that something special that makes a destination worthy of traveling for.
Seattle’s Hotel Sorrento is celebrating its 113th birthday this month. And while the property has been renovated and restored as needed over the years, it still maintains plenty of its original fixtures (and charms). In fact, staying here feels like going back in time in all the best ways, so it’s no wonder some of the hotel’s most famous guests apparently never left. Whether or not you believe in ghosts, you’ll enjoy a lively stay at this historic treasure.
Hotel Sorrento was built in 1909, just before the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition was held in Seattle.
When the hotel was purchased in the 1980s by the Malone Family, who fully renovated the building, they left important details like the Rookwood tiles around the fireplace in the Fireside Room. To this day, this is a great spot to come have a cocktail, meet a date, and enjoy some live music.
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When the hotel first opened, there was a restaurant on the seventh floor, which was impressive since the building once had unobstructed views of the Sound.
It isn't easy choosing between pasta dishes and gems like almond chicken piccata, so you might want to bring a friend or two and share several entrees.
They do all have one thing in common: incredibly comfortable beds.
But if you spend time on the 4th floor, particularly in room 408, you just might come face to face with the ghost of Alice B. Toklas. She is usually dressed in white and black.
Alice moved to Seattle in 1890 to study at the University of Washington, and she lived an exciting life. She was a cannabis activist who is credited with inventing the pot brownie. No one knows why she has chosen to haunt this hotel, but she seems harmless.
Alice apparently isn't the only spirit to wander the halls of Hotel Sorrento.
Apparitions have been spotted by guests and employees alike, and the night guards have seen empty elevators come to the lobby and open on their own. Sorrento was named one of the country's 13 most haunted hotels by USA Today in 2015. That being said, any ghosts who may or may not be haunting this place seem to be in good spirits.
Haunted or not, Hotel Sorrento is a delightful place to spend an evening. The service is top notch, the rates are reasonable, and any paranormal encounters are just a bonus.
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